Process for the treatment of vegetable fibers



UNITED STATES CHARLES SCHWARTZ, 0F VILLEURBAN NE,

FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 SOCIETE GILLET do FILS, OF LYON, RHONE, FRANCE, A. CORPORATION OF FRANCE.

PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE FIBERS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES SCHWARTZ, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Villeurbanne, Department of Rhone, France, have invented a new and useful Process for the Treatment of Vegetable Fibers, of which the following is a specification.

The process which forms the subject of the present invention has for object the treatment of fibers of vegetable origin, that is to say, derived from cellulose or cellulosic products, in such a way as to impart to them the character of wool, both physically as to feel, appearance, and caloric qualities, and chemically as regards their aflinity and absorbent capacity toward coloring matters.

It has been found that these qualities can be communicated to cellulosic fibers when the products of a suitable slow dissociation of proteic bodies by strong mineral acids are fixed thereon.

The products of the dissociation are solutions which are precipitated by the ad dition of water.

The present process utilizes precisely these properties of the proteic bodies by precipitating their products of dissociation upon the cellulosic fibers to improve the latter.

This result can be obtained in various ways: Either the fabric to be treated is impregnated with the liquor of dissociation, the latter squeezed out and the material washed, or again the fabric is impregnated with the usual proteic solutions and then treated with the hydrolyzing liquid, squeezed out and washed.

In either case there is formed upon the fiber, and closely integral therewith, a precipitate of the intermediate insoluble product of the dissociation of the proteic body.

The following proteids, casein, egg-albumen serum-albumen, and gelatin, are very favorable for these reactions.

Hydrolyzing agents which begin to act at the ordinary temperature and aretherefore specially suitable for this purpose, are: 65 to 80 per cent. nitric acid, to or cent. sulfuric acid, 25 to 37 per cent. h rochloric acid, phosphoric acid of 55 to 5; These acids may be combined togetherz The time of immersion andthe temperature are regulated according to the nature of the fiber, the proteic substance employed, and the element which serves to efiect the dissoci- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

Application filed December 9, 1919. Serial No. 343,579.

ation. This dissociation may be sufiiciently effected in a few seconds, as in the case for example of casein with 65 per cent. sulfuric acid, or may require some minutes as occurs with nitric acid for example.

A variation of temperature from 5 0. below zero to 20 C. above zero, has no appreciable influence upon the result obtained. I

Precipitation is produced by merely washing the treated fiber in Water.

As primary substances for carrying out the process, there may be employed not only the proteids as such but also the products of their transformations, as for instance their combinations with formaldehyde or tannin. In the same way the precipitates formed on the fiber may be treated with bodies which form stable compounds with the proteids, as for instance formaldehyde or formaldehyde and ammonia.

The process is applicable to all vegetable fibers, both natural and artificial, in all forms and in any stage whatever in the operations to which they are subjected in the textile industry, whether they are in the mass or in the state of lap, cops, card-ends, twistings yarns or fabrlcs, and whether these fibers are mercerized or not.

This treatment of the fiber may be regarded as apreparation for: all the usual processes of dyeing, printing and reserves.

Examples.

(1) The fiber is impregnated with a slightly ammoniacal solution of casein, containing 10 per cent. of the latter, dried, and submitted for some time to the action of formaldehyde vapor; it is then treated for two minutes with 75 per cent. nitric acid at the ordinary tem erature, 7 squeezed or pressed out and was ed.

The yellowish color of xanthro-proteid developed by a secondary reaction may easily be removed by treatment with weak carbonate of soda.

(2) In the former example, the 7 5 per cent. nitric acid may be replaced by a mix- ,Ifture of:

85 parts of nitric acid of 40 B.

15 parts of sulfuric acid of 52 B.

(3) In example 1, the 7 5 per cent. nitric acid may be replaced by a mixture of:

92 parts of nitric acid of 44 B.

8 parts of phosphoric acid of 45 B.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I claim is:

1. A process for the treatment of vegetable fibers, with a view to imparting to them the character of wool, both physically, as to feel, appearance and caloric quality, and chemically, as regards their afiinity and absorbent capacity, said process consisting in fixing upon the fiber products resulting from the hydrolysis of proteic substances by the action of strong mineral acids thereon.

2. A process for the treatment of vegetable fibers, for the purpose described, consisting in impregnating the fibers with a proteic solution, treating the same with strong mineral acids, and then washing with 'water.

,3. A process for the treatment of vegetable fibers, for the purpose described, consisting in impregnating the fibers with a proteic solution, drying the said fibers treating the same with strong mineral acids, and then washing with water.

4:. A process for the treatment of vegetable fibers, sisting in impregnating the fibers with a proteic solution, treating with bodies which are of a nature to combine with and chemically transform proteid, treating said impregnated fibers with strong mineral acids, and then washing with water for precipitating upon the fibers the product of said chemical transformation and hydrolyzation of the proteic substances.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

CHARLES SCHWARTZ.

Witnesses:

PHILIPPE DESGRANGES, ADOLPHE BOHN.

signed my for the purpose described, con- 

